[MCR] Rockies: Murchison Falls and Parkway Avi Obs

Subject: [MCR] Rockies: Murchison Falls and Parkway Avi Obs
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 22:53:51 -0700
Rockies: Murchison Falls and Icefield Parkway avalanche observations (March 8)

-20C at Murchison Falls this morning made for hard, fracturing ice until the sun hit the route at 1pm, which helped to soften up the surface enabling one swing sticks on the last pitch (finally). There is a big hanging icicle to the left of the top of the route which would cause some damage if it decided to collapse while climbers were on the lower pitches.

The bowl at the base of the route is sporting a hard wind/spindrift slab. We didn't get any whoophing (as reported last week on gravsports- ice.com) but we were happy to have the avi gear with us (beacon, probe and shovel). Remnants of an old small (size .5) loose snow avalanche is obvious scouring across the approach trail about 50m before the climb.

During our drive past Waterfowl Lake this morning (approx. 7am), we observed two fairly large (size 2-2.5) avalanches pour down the east faces of Mt. Chephren and Mt. Epaulette. Both started from the summit rocks that were basking in the early morning sunrise. The one on Chephren completely engulfed The Wild Thing and The Wild Thing Direct.

Sean Isaac
ACMG Alpine Guide







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